Method and Apparatus for Sterilely Acquiring and Separating a Fluid

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided by which a fluid may be drawn and packaged within a series of interconnected sterile units. Once filled with the fluid, the connectors joining the sterile units may be sealed and severed to produce a number of separate sterile units. The volume of the separate sterile units may correspond to a single dose of the fluid. The technique allows a fluid to be partitioned into sterile units without exposure to the air or other potential contaminants.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for forming an asymmetric airtight seal comprising: 
 a clamping section configured to conformably engage a deformable tube, wherein the clamping section forms an asymmetric seal in the deformable tube, such that the asymmetric seal, when broken, forms an airtight end and an open end in the tube.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the clamping section comprises one or more heat-generating elements configured to heat the deformable tube when the clamping section is conformably engaged such that the asymmetric seal is formed by the heat.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the clamping section is configured to apply pressure to the deformable tube while the deformable tube is heated such that the asymmetric seal is formed by the combination of heat and pressure.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the clamping section comprises one or more compressive elements configured to apply pressure to the deformable tube when the clamping section is engaged such that the asymmetric seal is formed by the pressure.  
   
   
       23 . A method for sterilely collecting fluid comprising: 
 filling a sterile assembly with a fluid, wherein the sterile assembly comprises two or more compartments such that adjacent compartments are joined by a respective connector;    ceasing an inflow of the fluid when a final compartment is filled with the fluid; and    forming an asymmetric airtight seal in at least one connector comprising a deformable tube using a clamping section configured to conformably engage the deformable tube, wherein the clamping section forms the asymmetric airtight seal in the deformable tube, wherein the asymmetric airtight seal, when broken, forms an airtight end and an open end in the deformable tube.    
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the clamping section comprises one or more heat-generating elements configured to heat the deformable tube when the clamping section is conformably engaged such that the asymmetric airtight seal is formed by the heat.  
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the clamping section is configured to apply pressure to the deformable tube while the deformable tube is heated such that the asymmetric airtight seal is formed by the combination of heat and pressure.  
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the clamping section comprises one or more compressive elements configured to apply pressure to the deformable tube when the clamping section is engaged such that the asymmetric airtight seal is formed by the pressure.  
   
   
       27 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising forming a symmetric airtight seal within a respective connector between respective compartments not having an asymmetric airtight seal therebetween, wherein the symmetric airtight seal, when broken, forms a first airtight end and a second airtight end in the respective connector.  
   
   
       28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein forming the symmetric airtight seal in the respective connector between the respective compartments comprises at least one of heating and compressing the respective connector between the respective compartments to form the symmetric airtight seal in the respective connector.  
   
   
       29 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising detaching each compartment from one or more adjacent compartments at each respective symmetric airtight seal such that one or more sterile storage compartments are formed from the disconnected sterile assembly.  
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein filling the sterile assembly with the fluid comprises applying one of positive pressure and negative pressure to fill the sterile assembly with the fluid.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for storing a fluid comprising: 
 two or more sterile sections wherein adjacent sections are joined by a respective connector, wherein the respective connector allows the flow of the fluid between the adjacent sections when open;    a fluid inlet connected to an upstream fluid reservoir; and    a clamping section configured to conformably engage at least one connector comprising a deformable tube, wherein the clamping section is arranged to form an asymmetric airtight seal in the deformable tube, such that the asymmetric airtight seal, when broken, forms an airtight end and an open end in the deformable tube.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the clamping section comprises one or more heat-generating elements configured to heat the deformable tube when the clamping section is conformably engaged such that the asymmetric airtight seal is formed by the heat.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the clamping section is configured to apply pressure to the deformable tube while the deformable tube is heated such that the asymmetric airtight seal is formed by the combination of heat and pressure.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the clamping section comprises one or more compressive elements configured to apply pressure to the deformable tube when the clamping section is engaged such that the asymmetric airtight seal is formed by the pressure.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the fluid inlet is a mechanism for drawing blood.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the respective connector is closed by one of a symmetric airtight seal and an asymmetric airtight seal and wherein the adjacent sections are separable at the one of the symmetric airtight seal and the asymmetric airtight seal to form separate sections, wherein the symmetric airtight seal, when broken, forms a first airtight end and a second airtight end in the respective connector.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the one of the symmetric airtight seal and the asymmetric airtight seal is at least one of a heat shrink seal and a compression seal.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 31 , further comprising a pressure regulator operatively coupled to the apparatus such that pressure within the apparatus can be adjusted.